Navistar has been awarded a development contract by the United States Postal Service (USPS) to engineer a diesel powertrain replacement for delivery vehicles. The project is intended to significantly reduce the escalating service and fuel costs associated with the ageing fleet.
USPS will deliver one of its long life vehicles (LLV) to Navistar Engine Group’s engineering and technical centre in Melrose Park, Illinois, where the company’s in-house re-power engineering department will develop, install and test a diesel powertrain that includes Navistar’s MaxxForce 3.2-litre turbodiesel engine. Financial terms were not disclosed.
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“When the USPS current fleet was first put into service, diesel fuel and advanced diesel powertrain technology were not widely available,” said Andrew Dondlinger, vice president, North America operations, Navistar Engine Group. “Now, by replacing its gasoline powertrains, USPS could realise diesel’s benefits of fuel efficiency, long operational life and low service and operating costs.”
A proven diesel repower could upgrade USPS vehicles over the next decade. It is not uncommon for diesel powertrains to achieve fuel economy gains of up to 35% when compared to petrol powertrains, Navistar said. Further savings would be gained from diesel’s lower maintenance requirements, longer service life, and overall lower cost of ownership. Navistar estimates the USPS could realise payback on each repowered vehicle in as little as two years depending on maintenance and fuel costs.
Beyond Navistar’s history of development work on USPS diesel re-power, the company’s reputation as an integrated truck and engine manufacturer and its proven capabilities for on-time, on-budget work for the US military also influenced the contract award.
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